Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has no doubt that he will defeat Andre Ward, who right now is regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
Both boxers are coming off big career wins and now there are actual discussions taking place to match the two fighters.
Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs) moved up to the heavyweight division back in March and pulled off a major upset with an eleven round stoppage of former two division world champion David Haye. On his end, Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) retained his WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titles last month with an eight round stoppage of Sergey Kovalev in their rematch.
Ward has discussed the possibility of heading up to cruiserweight and even heavyweight.
And Bellew is willing to drop back to cruiserweight to meet him. A jump of 25-pounds is pretty big for Ward - and Bellew is confident that size will trump skill when they collide in the ring.
Bellew's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, has spoken with Ward's handlers about matching their boxers in the fall.
According to Bellew those discussions are now further along. However, Bellew is also in talks for a fall rematch with Haye.
"We are a little bit further on with talks with Andre Ward, and Eddie is talking to David Haye, so I've got a choice to make between one of the two. I like the thought of going in with the pound-for-pound king of the world, I really do, but I am not foolish or stupid enough to know there isn't unfinished business with David Haye," Bellew told Sky Sports.
"Both fights are attractive to me and we're just going to see where it goes. I know I can beat Andre Ward. People are writing me off automatically straight away, but I am too big and too strong [for him]. I haven't been in as many wars as people say I have, I've made a lot of hard fights very easy down the years, and I just believe I will beat him. If I beat him, what does that make me?"
